Starting Thursday, passengers can travel between Suvarnabhumi Airport and Khaosan Road on a bus ride that only costs about as much as the surcharge to use an airport taxi.

At a cost of 60 baht, the new S1 air-conditioned bus runs between BKK and the old quarter, including backpacker hub Khaosan Road and the Sanam Luang royal field.

At the airport, the bus will pick up passengers from Gate 7 on the first floor of the passenger terminal. The bus departs every half an hour between 6am and 8pm.

From the airport, the bus will take the Sirat Expressway and exit at Yommarat junction. It will pass along Lan Luang Road and continue to Ratchadamnoen Avenue, passing the Democracy Monument.

It will turn right at the Khok Wua Junction to run pass Tanao Road, known by Khaosan regulars as the Burger King side of the road.

The bus will continue past Wat Bowonniwet, turn onto Phra Sumen Road, then turn onto Chakrabongse Road to pass by the other side of Khaosan at the Chana Songkhram Police Station.

It will go further under the Phra Pin Klao Bridge to stop at the World War 1 Monument near Sanam Luang.

For the return trip, the bus will run past Phra Athit Road before turning onto Chakrabongse Road to pick up passengers from the police station side of Khaosan Road before heading directly toward Ratchadamnoen Avenue.

The service comes a month after airport shuttles were launched for two routes from Don Mueang Airport to Sanam Luang and Lumpini park downtown.